WHILE PARKED WITH NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION CHILD ACCIDENTLY PUT VEHICLE INTO GEAR WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES VEEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD, AND HIT A CEMENT BEAM, INJURING PARENT WHO WAS TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
1996 Chevrolet Van
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Van years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 28 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
3 reportsPRIOR TO COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE ON JULY 29, 2001, THERE IS MINIMUM OF NINE DOCUMENTED SERVICE REPORTS WITH THE DEALER FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS BEGINNING IN MAY OF 1997. TO DATE, THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THERE IS SEVERE PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND WHEEL VIBRATION UPON QUICK OR HEAVY APPLIANCE OF BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT WORK …
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PRIOR TO COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE ON JULY 29, 2001, THERE IS MINIMUM OF NINE DOCUMENTED SERVICE REPORTS WITH THE DEALER FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS BEGINNING IN MAY OF 1997. TO DATE, THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THERE IS SEVERE PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND WHEEL VIBRATION UPON QUICK OR HEAVY APPLIANCE OF BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT WORK AND HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY FROM THE BEGINNING; THUS, THE FRONT BRAKES MUST HANDLE THE LOAD. THE FRONT BRAKE LINING MUST BE REPLACE EVERY SIX MONTHS. THE BACK BRAKE LINING HAS BEEN REPLACED ONLY ONCE. THE DEALER INDICATED THE RECENT BRAKE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF THE ROTARS RUSTING AND SPLITTING IN HALF (A FIRST THEY SAY). THIS OCCURRED ONLY THREE MONTHS AFTER HAVING THIS VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO CHECK THE BRAKES AGAIN! THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED IN NOV. OF 1997, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FEB. 2000, THE IDLER ARMS (WHICH CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR OF TIRES) HAD TO BE REPLACED IN APRIL OF 2000 AND CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED IN FEB. 2001 (AGAIN AFFECTING TIRE WEAR, ALIGNMENT, ETC), TORTION BARS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FEB. 2001, ENGINE LEAK HAD TO BE ADDRESSED IN FEB. 2001. HARSH SHIFTING AND JERKING OF VEHICLE LET TO FAULTY TCC SOLENOID & HARNESS ASSY AND PINION SEAL REPLACEMENT IN APRIL 2001. THIS VEHICLE IS A HAZARD ON THE HIGHWAY AND TO THE OCCUPANTS. THE DEALER PERSONALLY CALLED CHEVROLET IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISCUSS A BUY BACK OR CREDIT. THEY WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. APPARENTLY, SOMEONE HAS TO DIE FIRST. RETAIL ON THIS VEHICLE IS $12,800. THE DEALER IS OFFERING $8,000 BECAUSE HE IS AFRAID TO SELL IT OFF HIS LOT BUT WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO AUCTION. I AM SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR CHEVROLET'S ENGINEERING AND DEFECT PROBLEMS EITHER MONETARILY OR WITH MY LIFE OR THE LIVES OF OTHERS. HELP!*AK
THE BEARING INSIDE THE REACTION CARRIER WAS DAMAGED CAUSING DAMAGE TO CARRIER, REACTION GEAR, SUN GEAR, THRUST WASHERS. ALL TRANSMISSION PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SAVED THE DAMAGED PARTS. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE I HAD OVER 36,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE, IS WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND I WOUL…
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THE BEARING INSIDE THE REACTION CARRIER WAS DAMAGED CAUSING DAMAGE TO CARRIER, REACTION GEAR, SUN GEAR, THRUST WASHERS. ALL TRANSMISSION PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SAVED THE DAMAGED PARTS. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE I HAD OVER 36,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE, IS WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND I WOULD RECEIVE NO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR WORK. I FEEL THAT A TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 65,000 MILES. I NEVER EVEN TOWED ANYTHING WITH THIS VAN. REGARDING THE REAR AIR CONDITIONING IN MY VAN, IT WAS THE ALUMINUM PIPE UNDERNEATH THE VAN THAT RUSTED AND ALL THE REFRIGERANT EVAPORATED. THUS, I HAD TO REPLACE A 6" PIECE OF PIPE AT A COST OF OVER $250! I WAS TOLD BY THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPANY FROM INDIANA THAT THEY NO LONGER USE ALUMINUM PIPE SINCE IT RUSTS BEING UNDERNEATH THE VAN, AND THEY USE ANOTHER PRODUCT. THEY HAVE HAD MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THAT. THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE MY MILEAGE WAS ALSO OVER 36,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VAN, SOME WERE FIXED FOR THE TIME BEING, BUT NOW I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME WERE NEVER FIXED PROPERLY, OR THE DEARLER SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. I HAVE MANY REPAIR INVOICES FOR THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVROLET VAN. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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